Feeling unsafe at work isn’t normal.
Employers in required by law to take all reasonable measures to keep you safe.
It doesn’t matter how big or small it might seem, if there’s a hazard in your workplace, your employer must be taking steps to prevent or eliminate it.
All workers should expect to work in a safe environment. If your employer isn’t meeting this expectation, then the SDA is here to help.
Common safety hazards
Safety hazards are more than just something that results in a slip, a trip or a fall. They can take many forms and don’t have to result in a physical injury or illness to be considered a hazard.
These hazards can be physical, psychological, invisible and can have short-term or long-term effects.
Some of the common hazards in our industries include understaffing and dangerous workloads, customer abuse, bullying, sexual harassment and heat stress.
Safety hazards generally arise from:
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Your physical work environment
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Work design and management (e.g. not having a barrier between workers and customers)
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Equipment, materials and substances used in the workplace (e.g. roll cages)
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Work tasks and how they are performed (e.g. manual handling)
The SDA can take action on:
Heat stress
Mental health concerns
Customer abuse and violence
Unsafe workload levels
Bullying and sexual harassment
The law enables workers to stop or refuse to carry out unsafe work if there is a reasonable concern you would be exposed to a serious health or safety risk arising from an immediate or imminent exposure to a workplace hazard.
Feeling unsafe at work isn’t normal.
Latest safety news
Psychosocial hazards
Regulations are in effect in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Broken Hill to better protect workers from psychosocial risks.
This mean that employers must take action to manage psychosocial risks by:
- Managing foreseeable risks
- Eliminating hazards at the source or minimise as much as possible
Psychosocial hazards can also include excessive workload demands and workplace harassment. These regulations mean your employer must take steps to minimise the risk that these hazards pose to you.
What a safe workplace looks like
Clear policies and procedures for work which prioritise worker’s safety
A hazard and incident reporting system which is accessible, easy to use and supported by comprehensive training for workers.
Commitment to identifying and assessing workplace hazards
Adequate staffing and workloads
Conscious workplace design and layout that provides workers with protection and refuge
Appointed Health and Safety Representative on site
Work health and safety committees that are predominately made up of workers.
Working collaboratively with the SDA to ensure workers’ safety
Find out more about becoming a Health and Safety Rep